The classic, hot rod and custom cars, trucks and motorcycles are the main attraction at the event Saturday, September 14th from 9 am to 3 pm, around the historic Courthouse-on-the-Square, 110 W. Hickory Street.

This festival showcases up to 200 vehicles, from the wow to the whimsical, whose owners are competing for the coveted Best of Show Award and some specialty awards that are custom-made by local artists. Festival attendees can stroll through this fun and fantastic display of vehicles and vote on their favorites, too. This year there will be five themed awards for the public to vote on, including Best “Family Truckster,” Best “Mid-Life Crisis Car,” Best “Drive-In Movie Car,” and more.

“This festival is one of Denton’s most popular community events and it highlights historic downtown Denton in a unique way that truly captures the culture of Denton,” said Larry Parker, DMSA president.

“Our custom-made specialty trophies have really enhanced the car show awards and we are looking forward to seeing some more great trophies made from old car parts and hand-painted by local artists,” said Craig Thomas, DMSA board member and AAA event chairman.

The arts also abound at this event! Festival-goers can shop and stroll through fine arts and crafts vendor booths on the courthouse lawn or peruse the specialty boutiques, antique and vintage stores, and the art galleries and studios downtown. The silent auction inside the courthouse will also be a place to bid on some nice items ranging from merchant goods and restaurant certificates to local entertainment and art packages. This is the second year for the art contest that highlights the talent of local artists in both the professional and amateur realms.

“We are excited to offer this contest for the second year and this year we are bringing back the Chalk Fest competition,” said Lora Amyx-Gorman, DMSA board member and AAA committee member.

The antique collector, or those aspiring to start, can learn some fast facts about a special antique or heirloom in the “Attic Treasure” information appraisals at the festival. The appraisals will be conducted in some of downtown’s stores with specialists available to provide information on general antiques and collectibles, including art, jewelry, clocks, china, silver, glass, and general antiques. (Limit 3 items. No furniture or photos of items please). Appraisals are $5 per item or 3 for $10. Tickets are available at stores where specialists are located or at the Information Booth on the courthouse lawn during the event.

Festival-goers can also enjoy an array of activities throughout the day. Hands-on arts, crafts and games keep the kids busy. Local bands, including the Guitar George Trio, play live music entertaining the crowds all day long. The fall festival atmosphere is complete with tasty treats from any of downtown’s coffee houses, candy stores, ice cream and yogurt shops, or restaurants offering a variety of cuisines.

General admission to the event is FREE. Check the website, dentonmainstreet.org, and go to the Events page for information, event schedule, and deadlines. Also, find us on Facebook at Downtown Denton – Denton Main Street Association and follow us on Twitter @DentonMSA.

Arts, Antiques & Autos is presented by the Denton Main Street Association with The Denton Record-Chronicle, First United Bank, and Northstar Bank, with the support of the City of Denton and numerous other sponsors.

Dandelion

Found only in the northern hemisphere, multiple cultures hold this dreaded “weed” in high regard. Every part can be used to make products useful to humans. Healthful vinegars, wines and lagers are made from the flowers. Young leaves more nutritious than spinach make a tasty addition to salad,
cooked greens or a delicious tea, and are found in most gourmet greens and herb mixes today. Cut them off he plant while they are young and leave the roots in the ground to grow more. Roots can be dried and roasted for use as a coffee substitute, or chopped and added to leaves for tea.

Vitamins A, B, C and D plus the minerals calcium, chromium, copper, magnesium, potassium, selenium, sulfur and zinc can be found in all parts of dandelion. The latex from the flower stem is useful as a topical wart treatment, but not (as myth holds) for tire production. Taken internally, it is a treatment for eczema, acne and other skin conditions and can be found commercially in tea, tincture, extract and capsule form. Traditional and holistic health practices regard dandelion as a strong cleansing herb with a diuretic effect that can help eliminate toxins from flu, food poisoning, alcohol or edema but warn that it can speed the elimination of standard medications from the body, so caution should be used by those who take synthetic antibiotics, antidepressants, or medications for blood pressure or cholesterol treatment.

At our little farm, we encourage the growth of dandelions to help feed the starving bees, so we eat the greens and use them for teas, and because we enjoy the bright yellow flowers and blowing the seeds into the air with our grandkids. Dandelions grow happily among our herbs and vegetables. So now that you know your dandelions are friend and not foe, put the weed killer down and eat them instead!

Chicory/Endive

Valued for both food and medicine, this native of India, southern Europe and North Africa has become naturalized in North America. Radicchio, endive, escarole (broad leafed) and frisee’ (narrow leafed, curly) are all popular varieties. Its leaves are great raw for salad or as a sautéed vegetable dish, in soups or with pasta, rice, in stuffing or casseroles. The leaves are palatable but can be bitter unless pulled young and while still light colored. The technique of growing endive in the dark to keep the leaves nearly white was developed by accident in Belgium in the 1850s. The root can be plucked young, cooked and eaten like parsnips, or allowed to grow larger, dried & ground for use as a coffee additive or substitute and flavoring for stouts. Chicory coffee is welcome, especially in the evening as it has no caffeine.

Chicory is known to contain compounds effective in eliminating intestinal parasites, making it an excellent grazing for foraging animals, and digestive tonic for humans. It has several beneficial compounds; inulin helps control blood sugar and is indicated to reduce the level of serum LDL cholesterol in the blood, and oligofructose has been indicated in studies to selectively stimulate growth & activity of probiotic bacteria in the intestines, which in turn improves calcium absorption, a serious issue in geriatric patients. Lactucin and lactucopicrin have a mild sedative effect on the central nervous system, beneficial in calming digestive discomfort. All varieties are a good source of beta carotene and effective in preventing constipation. Chicory (kasni, succor, hendibeh) is highly valued in Ayurveda as a blood cleaner and liver tonic (similar to dandelion) and helpful in treating fever (including malaria), gout, and rheumatic conditions related to general inflammation, like PMS and fibromyalgia. Chicory is vegan, halaal compliant and kosher and can be found in liquid, dried, fresh or frozen form.

The naturalized, wild chicory variety is noted for its striking blue flowers (also occasionally lavender or white) and is a great addition to any xeriscape garden as it is heat and drought tolerant with great appeal for pollinators. Plant it by seed in late spring to early summer in any kind of soil, thin to allow at least a foot between plants, and let it grow & reseed. It is perennial so it will return each year unless you harvest the roots. ENJOY!

As another fall approaches, it’s important to get back into the school-time swing. You’ve helped your child select supplies and clothes for the new year, but have you done your homework? Dr. Randy Park, medical director with Baylor Emergency Medical Center at Aubrey, has some health tips that will prepare your student for staying healthy throughout the school year, and at home.

• Make sure your child understands the importance of proper hand washing, with soap and water, before eating and after using the restroom. A good rule of thumb for the length of washing time is to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice to themselves while scrubbing and rinsing. Sanitizing gel can be used, but make sure they know how.
• While sharing is a great concept, children should be taught not to use friends’ combs or brushes, nor share their own. This can cause the spread of head lice, which is more common during the school year.
• Most important, have you made sure your children’s vaccinations are up-to-date? Check with your healthcare provider to see what the requirements are for schools in your area.
• Have you filled out all the health forms required by the school? Are your own emergency numbers current? Does your child have a special health concern that needs to be discussed with the school? Do you have a plan in case of emergency?

“School is the perfect environment for illnesses like colds, flu, strep throat, and even meningitis to spread quickly,” said Dr. Park. “Teaching good habits now can reduce their risk of becoming ill or spreading illnesses, and promotes a healthy lifestyle that will stay with them as they grow up.”

Yoga classes are part of a complementary therapy program offered for cancer patients and survivors in Denton County. The classes are offered by Yoga Bridge and Foundation 56, organizations that address the needs of people in any stage of cancer diagnosis/recovery through the healing practice of yoga, massage and other social services.

Clinically-based scientific trials are proving that practicing yoga can alleviate levels of fatigue, intrusive thoughts, sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, and anxiety in patients undergoing cancer treatment. Pamela Ryan is a yoga teacher, massage therapist, and co-founder of Yoga Bridge™. She tells us, “There is mounting evidence that yoga is proven to have a beneficial effect on stress management.”

Just a few of the ways in which stress negatively affects our health is decreased bone density, fatigue, weight gain/increased appetite, problems with memory, and increase in blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Yoga is unique in that it addresses not only muscular strength, but it aims to balance one’s strength and flexibility, and it is designed to accommodate anyone of any fitness level. Even more important is the calming effect of breathing exercises and meditation.

Free Yoga for Cancer Classes
Tuesdays at 5:30pm at Denton Regional in the Education Bldg. and Wednesday 5:30pm class at Texas Oncology in Flower Mound. The cost is free to cancer patients/survivors, Contact yogabridge@hotmail.com to reserve a spot.

Fundraising Yoga Classes – Open to the Public
Mondays at 5:15pm at Texas Oncology in Flower Mound and Thursdays at 5:15pm at Texas Oncology in South Denton. The funds from these classes help to provide free yoga for cancer patients and survivors. Cost for 6-weeks is $60, or drop-in for $12 (drop-ins pay onsite).

The Ugly Truth

By: Shaina Owens, High School Student

Bullying is not a topic that teens feel comfortable talking about. Too many times our generation looks the other way. We fail to get involved. We fail to stand up for what’s right. And why? Because we’re scared of being targeted. We’re scared of being rejected. We’re scared of being ignored. It’s an ugly situation with too many ugly truths.

To shed more light on the subject, the entertainment industry is doing its part through advertisements and commercials. Local, state and federal government agencies have launched campaigns, conferences and instituted stiffer penalties against schools that fail to appropriately and timely address acts of bullying. Some universities and schools have set up policies and online sites that students can access to report abuse. But, despite all their efforts, bullying is on the rise. Awareness and education can only do so much.

If a difference is to be made, it needs to be made in the home. It needs to start with the family. What children are taught and how they behave in public or even in their own house is a reflection of their upbringing. If a parent embraces the idea that “kids will be kids” or it’s “all part of growing up,” then there lies your problem. A blasé way of thinking is not the solution.

Once a bully, always a bully. Unless the cycle is broke. If not, the belligerent behavior can filter into their adult life. This can lead to destructive life choices, anger issues, alcoholism, drug abuse, mental instability, spousal and/or child abuse, and perhaps prison time.

Another ugly truth is the one I faced. From my elementary school days all the way through my junior high years, I was a victim of bullying. The person that bullied me was the child of two teachers who worked at the school. The crime was reported. My parents got involved. They met with the school officials. They followed the school polices. Conferences were held. Discussions took place. In the end, the bully was never punished. No detention. No ISS. No nothing. The school felt that the bully and I should undergo counseling, together, with another school employee. This proposed a biased set-up from the get go and one that would protect the bully. We went along with their recommendations. Did it solve anything? No. She went her way and I went mine. And that’s the way it’s been ever since.

If a lesson was learned, then it was this. My parents were there for me. They stood by me and they supported me. My mom called local, state and federal officials. She spoke to U.S. and State Congressmen and Senators. She contacted a law firm too. She found out our rights and recourse. My dad was just as diligent. He made it known that our family would not tolerate any form of bullying whatsoever and we would take whatever legal steps necessary to stop it.

So my advice to you is to not lay silent. Speak up and speak out against bullying. You don’t have to be a victim. Be the victor instead. The real truth is you’re the one that can change things for the better. You’re the one that can put an end to bullying. If you need help, advice or information, visit stopbullying.gov. If you want to start a community anti-bully initiative, you can find tips here actagainstviolence.apa.org.